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Best Sony Soundbars

Updated March 2024
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Sony HT-A5000 Soundbar
Sony
HT-A5000 Soundbar
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Best for Everyday Use
Bottom Line

If you have a premium entertainment center or PlayStation 5, you should consider the immersive sound and feature-rich design of the Sony HT-A5000 Soundbar.

Pros

Powerful 3D surround sound and Bluetooth capability for connecting to a TV. Features Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies. Deep bass. Supports 8K, 4K, and Dolby Vision for gaming and movies. Upscales compressed CD and MP3 formats.

Cons

Subwoofers are sold separately.

Best Bang for the Buck
Sony S100F 2.0ch Soundbar
Sony
S100F 2.0ch Soundbar
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Small Yet Powerful
Bottom Line

A soundbar and subwoofer combo that can connect to your TV wirelessly and has a built-in tweeter and two-speaker design for virtual surround sound.

Pros

This affordable soundbar is a quick way to replace poor-quality TV speakers with a more robust option. The two-channel design produces a full sound in small spaces, and Bluetooth compatibility is convenient for streaming music from your phone.

Cons

Only compatible with HDMI ARC, so some TVs are not supported.

Sony HT-X8500 Soundbar
Sony
HT-X8500 Soundbar
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For Midsized Rooms
Bottom Line

A top pick for small to mid-sized rooms, Sony’s HT-X8500 Soundbar is an affordable way to enjoy 4K HDR audio for gaming and streaming entertainment.

Pros

Inexpensive. Rich surround sound. Supports 4K HDR content. Bluetooth connectivity. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies. Simple installation. Integrated dual subwoofers. Deep bass. Slim profile.

Cons

Lacks a voice mode for crisp dialogue.

Sony Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar
Sony
Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar
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Easiest to Use
Bottom Line

A powerful soundbar and subwoofer pair for excellent range; it can connect to your TV wirelessly.

Pros

The price point and ease of setup make this a reliable budget home theater setup. The subwoofer is pre-paired with the soundbar, which connects via HDMI ARC or optical. Adjustable bass and Dolby Digital audio. Controls integrate with many TVs and remotes.

Cons

Sound quality suffers at low volume. Some compatibility issues with older TVs.

Sony HT-A7000
Sony
HT-A7000
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Feature-packed
Bottom Line

This soundbar was designed to complement Sony's BRAVIA line of TVs but would be a great addition to any home theater system.

Pros

The 7.1.2-channel system packs two dome tweeters, two cone woofers, and seven midrange cones. Supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos, DTS, and DTS:X. Offers dialogue enhancement and virtual surround. Supports Airplay 2, Bluetooth 5.0, and WiFi.

Cons

Expensive. Doesn't include subwoofer or other accessories.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

56
Models
Considered
181
Consumers
Consulted
20
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for Best Sony soundbars

Every year, TVs seem to get thinner. This makes finding a spot to place your TV a lot easier. But there is a drawback to ultra-thin TVs: you may lose sound quality.

If you want sound that matches its picture quality, you can still get it. How? With a high-quality soundbar.

Sony is a time-tested brand, and it makes a wide range of soundbars. Such a wide range, in fact, that finding the best one for your home entertainment system can be hard. You must choose the right type, connections, number of channels, and other features.

With so many options to sort through, shopping can feel like a chore. That’s where BestReviews comes in.

With this buying guide and our recommendations, it is easy to find the right products for your home theater.

Read on to learn about the best Sony soundbars and how to find one.

Sony soundbars
You can place your soundbar below your TV whether the TV is on a table, shelf, cabinet, or wall.

Soundbar types

A soundbar is an all-in-one speaker that provides high-quality sound for your TV.

Unlike other systems, it has a slim design. It takes up little space. And, with as few as two speakers, it’s easy to set up.

It may have stereo or surround sound to make you feel like you’re at the movies.

Two types are available: active and passive.

  • Active soundbars are common. They have built-in amplifiers. Plug into your TV, cable box, or other device for top-notch sound.
  • Passive soundbars are like most speaker systems; they need a separate receiver. More time is needed for setup. But, some home theater buffs prefer the quality.

Features

Size

Soundbars don’t take up much space. You should have room left over in your entertainment center.

Nearly all are 40 inches long or less. Width is usually under 3 inches.

Because of the size, you can fit one in front of your TV without blocking your view.

Subwoofer

A subwoofer is a speaker that makes low bass frequencies. It rounds out the audio.

A subwoofer may be separate or built in.

Not all soundbars have a subwoofer. However, for intense movies and games, it boosts sound quality.

Connections

  • HDMI: ModernTVs, Blu-ray players, cable boxes, and other devices usually connect to a soundbar via HDMI.
  • Analog: If you have an older TV, it may need an analog connection.
  • Optical digital connection: This is another way to connect a TV, cable box, Blu-ray player, or portable music device.
  • USB: Insert a USB storage device like a flash drive to get media files for playback.
  • Bluetooth: This lets you wirelessly stream audio from your smartphone, tablet , or computer. Some have two-way Bluetooth. With this, you can stream music from the soundbar to Bluetooth speakers or headphones.
  • WiFi: Love Spotify? Pandora? Built-in WiFi lets you stream from these services.

Channels

For top-notch audio, choose a system with multiple amplifier channels.

Some only have 2.1 channels. A 2.1 can boost audio quality, but it cannot provide surround sound.

For the best audio, pick a model with five or seven channels, a subwoofer, and rear speakers.

Make sure no items are blocking the front or sides of your soundbar.

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Wireless speakers

For multi-channel soundbars with rear speakers, wireless speakers are great.

You have more options for placement. This helps bring true surround sound to your home theater.

Sofa Mode

Sofa Mode lets you put the subwoofer beneath your couch. You will feel the low bass as you relax and watch.

You can also put it next to your sofa or other furniture.

4K compatibility

If you have a 4K television, choose a soundbar system that works with 4K video.

These machines have a pass-through that can send the 4K signals to your television.

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Did you know?
The volume of most soundbars can be controlled with a TV remote control.
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Tips

  • Sony is not the same company as Sonos. But, many of its products share features with Sonos products. This includes the SRS line.
  • Life is easier with a remote control. Have a Sony TV? You may be able to use its remote on your soundbar.
  • If you choose a soundbar with Bluetooth, note the range. Some have a short range of 10 feet or less.
  • Don’t forget to check out other great home audio companies. These include Vizio, RCA, LG, Samsung, Sonos, and Bose.

A backlit remote control is a great way to manipulate your device from the comfort of the couch late at night.

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Pricing

Price varies based on the number of channels, whether there is a subwoofer or speaker, and features. In general, you can expect to pay between $130 and $1,500.

Inexpensive

Soundbars with 2 to 2.1 channels and no subwoofer or a built-in subwoofer usually cost $100 to $200.

Mid-range

Soundbars with 2.1 to 5.1 channels and a separate subwoofer or speaker usually cost $200 to $800.

Expensive

Soundbars with 5.1 to 7.1 channels and a separate wireless subwoofer or speakers usually cost $800 to $1,500

Sony soundbars
Football Mode makes you feel like you’re at the stadium when you watch the big game.

FAQ

Q. Active or passive: which offers the best audio quality?

A. Active soundbars are easy to use and set up. This is due to the built-in subwoofer, speakers, and/or amplifiers. But, they don’t provide the crispest audio.

Passive soundbars offer better sound. This is thanks to a separate subwoofer or speaker system.

If you choose one with a wireless subwoofer or speakers, you’ll get great audio and easy setup, too.

Q. Are Dolby Atmos and other audio formats supported?

A. Many have Dolby Atmos and/or DTS:X compatibility. This creates theater-quality surround sound.

Dolby Atmos-compatible soundbars have a label with three numbers. The third tells you how many upfiring speakers there are.

For example, a 7.1.2 model has seven channels, one subwoofer, and two upfiring speakers.

Q. Can I connect additional wireless speakers?

A. You may be able to add extra speakers for a true surround sound experience.

However, you can’t add speakers to many low-end models.

Check product details if you plan to use extra speakers.